Imaging your hardcopy documents into an electronic health record management system offers an effective and reliable solution for migrating from a paper-based system. As documents are delivered to the HIM department from various sources within the healthcare facility, they are scanned and indexed into the imaging system. Documents already in electronic format can also be downloaded and merged into a patient's record. A complete electronic history of a patient's encounters with the healthcare facility can be created and maintained (i.e. ER, Clinic and Inpatient). As a result, the entire healthcare information system can benefit from this technology by enabling secured access to these documents through its network environment.